Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The flood disaster has led many municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia to draw up concepts for flood protection and better risk management in the event of heavy rain. Especially in the particularly affected regions, new plans have been initiated and funding applications have been submitted. This emerges from a response from the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Environment to a request from the AfD parliamentary group published in Düsseldorf on Tuesday.
So far, 17 municipalities have been supported with state funds for flood protection concepts, the ministry reported. They are being planned for 29 more. In addition, 86 municipalities have received funding notifications for the creation of municipal concepts for heavy rain risk management. These 50 percent subsidies have been available since the end of 2018. According to the information, a further 99 municipalities have now expressed an interest in funding or are already planning corresponding applications.
In the flood of the century a year ago, 49 people died in North Rhine-Westphalia alone, as well as five others from NRW who died outside the state. The material damage caused by the catastrophe is estimated at around 13 billion euros. At least 135 people died in the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate on the night of July 15, 2021. Two people are still missing there. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) had warned of the consequences of "testimony to man-made climate change" on the anniversary.
The Ministry of the Environment explained: "The water levels of the flood event in July 2021 far exceeded the previous level records on some rivers and streams in NRW." As a result of this extraordinary event, the discharge statistics in the heavily affected areas have changed, so that the flood areas relevant to the flood areas have to be recalculated.
This is having the greatest impact in the government district of Cologne, which is particularly affected. "In some cases, large discrepancies have been identified between the published flood hazard maps and the observed flood areas," the ministry said. "This mainly affects the catchment area of the Erft, but also other water bodies in the catchment area of the Rur, Sieg and Wupper." New measurements and calculations are therefore required as soon as possible - also as a planning basis for the reconstruction.
